Motorway charges in Switzerland

Are you thinking of travelling in Switzerland? if so you will have to pay to use the motorways.:Mad:

Vehicles up to 3.5 tons must buy a Vignette costing 40 Swiss Francs and valid for 14months (caravanners/trailers have to buy two!).

Payment is easy (Euros, Sterling, Credit Cards or Swiss currency accepted. Exchange rate about 2.43 Swiss Francs to the Pound). If you pay for the vignette with Euros or Sterling you will get Swiss Francs in change.

If your motorhome is above the 3500kg weight limit you will need a special permit for one day (3.25 SF), 10 days (32.50), a month (58.50) or a year (650.00).

The vignette can be bought in advance at service areas on main routes approaching the border. If you are over the 3500kg limit you can only get a permit at the border post. If you are travelling mid week be prepared to wait as you use the same counter as the truckers.

When we had the Laika (4200kg) we would buy a 10 days pass to transit Switzerland out and back. The ten days don't have to be taken consecutively, so the pass is good for a return journey too, provided it's within one year.

Excellent value, as the motorways include the 10-mile St Gothard Tunnel through the Alps into Italy!

Personally I think the Swiss option is the best and the cheapest.:thumb: If you go through Switzerland you will need a GB sticker (the GB number plate will not do) as Switzerland is not in the EU.

I hope this helps.

Don

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I think so to, going via Austria will not only incur the cost of the Vignette, but also the 8 euro toll for the Austrian section of the Brenner Pass Autobahn followed by Italian tolls on their section of the Autorada.

In Garda at the moment we had our vinette from the uk however we are over 3500 so had to buy the 10 day one at the border. You do need an extra one for a trailer. Swiss route is a good route. Here till early sept.

Hi all,
I have a 4000kg van and I presume that I will have to declare that weight, or, do they weigh your vehicle. Never been to Switzerland or Austria and would like to give it a try. Let me know, please. Thanks.

I'm not familiar with Austria but in Switzerland the border guards seem to be able to sniff out motorhomes over 3500kg. If you know you are over the 3500kg just stop and buy the permit at the border.:thumb:

In Austria it is down to you to buy a Go Box, make sure you know where your vin plate is and make sure it's clean so it can easily be read.:thumb:

Also make sure you have your V5C (Vehicle Registration Certificate) with you.:thumb:

If you are travelling through Germany remember the speed limit for motorhomes over 3500kg is 100kph unless a lower limit is in force.

Last year i just bought the vinnette thing on web from swiss embassy and had no problem, this year they seemed to be stoping everyone at the border, I was asked my weight, told the vinette I had was wrong and had to buy the 10 day one at the border, happy with that now you know thats fine, last year was not questioned and they did look at the windscreen for it.

Still a good system I think. all the way to garda and no tolls except the small ones in Italy. Moved on the Venice area now for a week and then back to garda.

First time through Switzerland was in a Compass Avantgarde - van weighed about 3000 kg. I was stopped at the French/Swiss border and the staff sold me a sticker at 40 SFR.

Next van through was a Kontiki 4000kg thing. I had already prefilled in an annual form as I was aware the van was over 3500kg. I was never asked the weight and I was sold the same sticker as above. The Corsa was on the A frame and they stung me for another 40 SFR for that

Third van through was the TAG axle Kontiki - 5000kg. I was asked if the van was over 3500kg and then directed to the office to fill in a form. I had already done this as I always have a load of the blank forms. I opted for 10 trips for 32.50 SFR within a 12 month period.

Next trip through - still in the same Kontiki, and with the 10 trip toll purchased - I passed my form to the border staff to be told the "formula had changed" and to go to the office for a new style form. It turned out my form was correct, the formula and charges had changed only for coaches and lorries.

I know this is an Old thread, but, We are thinking on Switzerland in a couple of weeks, a run through the Alps down to Lake Geneva. Do you have to pay even if you do not intend on using motorways? is it just for Motorways? are the roads decent enough for Motorhomes.? we are 4.2 tonne.

If you are over 3500kgs the 10 day permit will cost you 32.5 Swiss Francs payable at the Border Crossing.

You need it for all roads in Switzerland and the form you get has ten day/date boxes which you must complete for each day you are in Switzerland. It is valid for a year. The form states:

"Cancellation by the driver; before entering Switzerland and prior to each supplementary day during which the vehicle is staying in Switzerland; enter the day and the date, e.g Tuesday 26.08.08."

The 10 days therefore includes any non-driving days.

The procedure at the Border Crossing is very efficient and you can pay cash or using a credit card. You will need your V5 registration document.

We have not long returned from Italy, down through the St Gottard Tunnel as it was peeing down and visibility was poor and back over the Pass on our return. The roads are fantastic though, after the St Gottard we went over the Susten Pass...stunning.

32.5 Swiss Francs is an absolute bargain especially as the French Toll to go through the Sainte Marie aux Mines Tunnel on our way to Colmar was 34.7 Euros one way!

A swift check in the rear view mirror, rapid fire into reverse gear and and alternative route was chosen PDQ.

Damm those French electronic measuring devices and their unmanned toll booths!

To transit Switzerland it will cost you SF32.50 (about £17.20) for a ten day pass, you will use one day out and one day back. Just make sure you put the dates in that you are travelling.
Personally I think the Swiss option is the best and the cheapest.:thumb:
The route we use to Italy is Luxembourg, Strasbourg, Basel, St Gothard Tunnel. You would then go via Milan, Bergamo, Brescia and Lake Garda.

Don

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We went with Hilldweller on the above route and it is a bargain! The price we paid at the Swiss border included the St Gottard tunnel plus a few cheap tolls in Italy, cost for our 4 tonne was about £39 I think. But Dave wanted to come home through France so we went through the Mont Blanc tunnel and that alone was 48Euros, I think. Total cost through France worked out on the motorways at 239 Euros as compared to the Swiss route. No brainer really.
We were lucky as From Reims the peage operators were on strike and we were waved through!
Lucille